Capturing The Fashionable at School Drop-Off and Beyond

Tag Archives: fashion blogs

Denim on Denim. Canadian Tuxedo. Jean Suit. Denim Tuxedo. Whatever you call it, this is my style. I live in denim, always have. So what do you think, Hot or not? Here are so many photos of me (what? you had enough?) in another jean on jean look.. notice the different shades of denim and my accessories…it makes my denim suit look less “suit” and more funky and stylish.. nothing “polished” about this look at all.. which I like.

In case you didn’t read my tips in my first post, here’s the key to pulling off, well really what I wear daily

Mix colors: I think it looks cooler to wear many different colors, like Joseph and his technicolor dream coat 🙂

Mix fabrics: so some denim is worn in and some denim is very dense.. it looks stylin’ to have all those fabrics blended. So a beat up jacket with holes paired with dark blue and stiff jeans.

Accessorize: Add color and/or lots of gold like me. Now that you are wearing all jean, throw some jewelry on and over do it..you can, believe me. Either silver or gold or a bright beaded necklace like I have from Colombia..go for it.

Bags/Shoes: Again, have fun here. You can get away with so much, like wearing high heels in bright red or white – especially if you are wearing jeans with holes. I love wearing a fancy bag like a Chanel or anything with gold hardware or even a fancy clutch with head to toe denim.. it gives cool style immediately. And it’s more fun to take something polished and make it a little less polished…

Opposites Attract: ..and the same works in regard to style. High/Low, Soft/Hard, Formal/Informal…

Men: You can pull this off so well, just make sure someone approves those jeans, must fit well, especially in the booty – although I kind of love a little sagging, if you can get away with it..throw on a cool jean jacket, maybe a beat up one, or a really dark denim paired with ripped jeans or an old denim work shirt.. you’ll stop traffic, believe me

This bag – -it’s so good!! But you can also change the entire look by wearing a bag with a lot more bling and/or logos.

I love Bela, she’s so real and doesn’t hide who she is. Ask any woman if they wear make-up to the gym, most will lie. Here’s my mini-interview with Bela, mom, make-up artist & a whole lot more:

Mara: “In your opinion, what’s the most essential item of make-up you need?”

Bela: “So I can’t just pick one, I feel every girl needs concealer, a touch of blush, defined brows, a little bit of eyeliner (although I cake it on) mascara and powder. My favorite translucent powder is Beauty Counter’s loose powder, it’s great for oily skin.”

Mara: “I’m crying of laughter, this is make-up you would use on a film set, or on Broadway! And this is your normal, every day routine -So What about BB cream, oils, stuff that you can wear to the gym?”

Bela: “Mara, I mean let me be clear, I do FULL face all day, everyday, gym, no-gym, school drop-off or no school drop-off, EVERYDAY”

Mara: “Can I quote you verbatim on Haute Drop-Off”

Bela: “Hell yea”

Bela and I volunteered together, our job was to put make-up on women in a charity fashion show. The women who sat in my chair, came out looking like they were on serious drugs or they lost in a street fight. Obviously, I tried to convince them of my theory that, “black and blue makes the eyes appear 20 years younger”, horrified because my lie wasn’t sinking in, I gave Bela the ‘save me’ look, and so she did. Bela dove in and fixed my terrible make-up job. From then on, I knew she had my back -and we became quick friends.

A row of lower back stars.. and how about this delicious kid? Bela grew up in Southern California, and visits her brother in West Hollywood frequently – apparently, he also is head to toe G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S.

Sexy shoulders.

Loooong legs..and this gorgeous child was so fun and delicious.

I love Bela’s pop of tattoos – you don’t know she has them – and then they just appear

yum.

Bela knows how to look good for the camera, and I think I should be her agent :).

Those low ankle boots are a 90’s throw back.. love them, flattering and make short cut-off’s look rock-n-roll…(do people still say that?)

When your mama has legs as long as a super model, you hold on to those things for support.

I always had friends much taller than me, it’s always a funny combination. It’s helpful to have tall friends for so many things, especially if you are trying to get the attention of a bartender. They ALWAYS see the tall people first, weird.

And as mothers, we can’t always pose for photographs – I mean, these kids want to do things, they want to climb – I love how Bela’s holding her daughter’s faux fur jacket, so she can climb the play structure.

Love the patches, especially since I now live in Grateful Dead country, and that’s an original patch – little did anyone know, it would be worn with stilettos and a large classic Chanel bag.

This 70’s jean jacket was hiding in between two vintage hawaiian shirts at the vintage flea market in Oakland. You would think I won the lottery, I was so excited – – -and for $70.00, it was mine. Oversized, original patches, perfect color and rips in all the right places – I landed on vintage denim perfection. Sunglass are from Madewell, www.madewell.com

These amazing door knockers are personalized with my name – from Melody Ehsani, https://melodyehsani.com and my chandelier earrings are from Neiman Marcus by Oscar de la Renta

My heels are from the Off Fifth, the Saks Fifth Avenue outlet store – they were maybe $20. The sun dress was also a random and very inexpensive find. Most people, would say it’s really a top!! The bag, Chanel – not inexpensive, but I like to think of it as an “investment” piece, investment in my style 🙂

The oversized jean jacket, makes a mini-dress seem more comfortable. I can wear it open or hide behind the bagginess.

I’m not smiling in these (okay, I’m making that semi-weird lip expression), it was the first run & I’m a little rusty and a lot self conscious – I warm up in the photos you’ll see in a few weeks. Although, I will admit to feeling like I did a pretty good job pulling together this look from my closet – what? self-validation people!

This basket weaved leather bag was a great summer purchase – $40.00 from Lola’s in Fairfax, CA – when I wear this bag, I get stopped constantly. My friend Em-J, who’s a very stylin’ twenty-something, surfing, mountain biking woman – has been on a constant search to find this bag, because she knows her friend Mara, has quite the eye for accessories & good prices (I’m kidding, but I do).

The choker is a long chain, made by Shandi Levy Jewelry. Chokers are here for now, and I’m still not sure if they look right on me, because I don’t have the neck of a ballet dancer. This dress is from H&M, and it was very cheap. I impulsively shortened it, by cutting it with scissors and it came out uneven. It was my multi-talented & close friend Barb, who fixed the dress & made it wearable. It looks shredded and low end, but that doesn’t matter to me – accessories are key. The plaid top, also cut by yours truly, (so happy Grunge is back “in”) is by Zara. The gladiator sandals I LOVE, and found on sale at 02 in Aspen this summer. They are by Vince Camuto.

The sandals I guess seem sexy, because I get some “looks” when wearing them. They are totally flat with no heel, which makes them causal and wearable – but I guess the look of them seems out of the box for some…I’ve just been enjoying pairing them with everything in my closet – including the boring, but repeated yoga pant!!

My nails are long again, they are acrylic and high maintenance. The males in my life think they are awful, but women usually love them. I love them, they elongate your hands and make me feel like I’m related to J.Lo :).

I really look like I’m trying here….oy vey!

The only issue with this dress and wearing it to pick up my kids is the wind factor. It’s always windy in Northern California, especially in San Francisco. I walk with my arms attached to my side or make all my bags messenger, to hold my dress down, I would wear dresses every day if it wasn’t windy –